Abstract: In a moving unit, a shutter member is provided with a first contact portion configured to receive a force in a predetermined direction when the shutter member comes into contact with the apparatus main body, and a second contact portion configured to receive a force in a direction different from the predetermined direction when the shutter member comes into contact with the apparatus main body. When the moving unit is moved from the second position to the first position along the first direction, the first and second contact portions sequentially come into contact with the apparatus main body, the shutter member moves relative to the delivery member in the order of a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the first direction, and the opening changes from the closed state to the open state.

Abstract: In a moving unit, a shutter member is provided with a first contact portion configured to receive a force in a predetermined direction when the shutter member comes into contact with the apparatus main body, and a second contact portion configured to receive a force in a direction different from the predetermined direction when the shutter member comes into contact with the apparatus main body. When the moving unit is moved from the second position to the first position along the first direction, the first and second contact portions sequentially come into contact with the apparatus main body, the shutter member moves relative to the delivery member in the order of a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the first direction, and the opening changes from the closed state to the open state.

Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can accurately detect a position of a rear end of a sheet regardless of rigidity of the sheet. A rotation axis is positioned to one of a plurality of stop positions by a positioning mechanism, an applied force of a torsion coil spring provided between the rotation axis and a first sensor flag, and an applied force of a torsion coil spring provided between the rotation axis and a second sensor flag are made smaller than an applied force of a pressing spring provided in the positioning mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a first path and a second path through which a sheet is conveyed, and a guide portion rotatable between a first position where the sheet is guided to the first path and a second position where the sheet is guided to the second path, wherein the guide portion includes a resin member including a first guide surface configured to guide the sheet to the first path at the first position, and a second guide surface configured to guide the sheet to the second path at the second position, and a reinforcing member including a main body portion extending in a direction along an axis line of guide portion, and protrusions protruding, along the first guide surface and the second guide surface, from both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the main body portion.

Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can accurately detect a position of a rear end of a sheet regardless of rigidity of the sheet. A rotation axis is positioned to one of a plurality of stop positions by a positioning mechanism, an applied force of a torsion coil spring provided between the rotation axis and a first sensor flag, and an applied force of a torsion coil spring provided between the rotation axis and a second sensor flag are made smaller than an applied force of a pressing spring provided in the positioning mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material. A process cartridge, including a photosensitive drum and a process device actable on the drum, is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus in a direction of an axis of the drum. The image forming apparatus includes a first positioning portion, provided above the cartridge, for positioning, with respect to a direction crossing with the axis of the drum, the drum at an upstream position with respect to a mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, and a second positioning portion, provided above the cartridge at a downstream position with respect to the mounting direction, for positioning the drum with respect to a direction crossing with the axis of the drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, and detachably mounts process cartridges having photosensitive drums. The apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable openable member, a belt receiving an image or carrying the recording material, supporting members supporting the process cartridges at different levels and movable between drum-contacting and retracted positions, and a connecting member moving the supporting member when the openable members moves to position the supporting member at the drum-contacting position when the openable member is closed, and position the supporting member at the retracted position when the openable member is opened, and including a shaft whose axis crosses the openable member rotational axis, first connecting portions rotatably connected with respective supporting members, and a second connecting portion engaging the openable member and fixed to the shaft closer to the openable member than the first connecting portions are fixed to the shaft.

Abstract: An image rewriting apparatus for forming an image on a recording material. A process cartridge, including a photosensitive drum and a process device actable on the drum, is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus in a direction of an axis of the drum. The image forming apparatus includes a first positioning portion, provided above the cartridge, for positioning, with respect to a direction crossing with the axis of the drum, the drum at an upstream position with respect to a mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, and a second positioning portion, provided above the cartridge at a downstream position with respect to the mounting direction, for positioning the drum with respect to is direction crossing with the axis of the drum.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a first path and a second path through which a sheet is conveyed, and a guide portion rotatable between a first position where the sheet is guided to the first path and a second position where the sheet is guided to the second path, wherein the guide portion includes a resin member including a first guide surface configured to guide the sheet to the first path at the first position, and a second guide surface configured to guide the sheet to the second path at the second position, and a reinforcing member including a main body portion extending in a direction along an axis line of guide portion, and protrusions protruding, along the first guide surface and the second guide surface, from both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the main body portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, detachably mounts a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum, and includes first and second positioning portions respectively positioning the drum upstream and downstream with respect to a cartridge mounting direction, a coupling engaging a drum coupling and transmitting a driving force to the drum, and a support supporting the cartridge at a first position positioning the drum to the first and second positioning portions and at a second position spacing the drum away from the first and second positioning portions to permit cartridge mounting and dismounting. The support includes a guide engaging the cartridge, and a third positioning portion limiting cartridge rotation relative to the first and second positioning portions when the coupling transmits a driving force to the drum coupling and for positioning the cartridge lower portion at an upstream position with respect to the mounting direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, detachably mounts a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum, and includes first and second positioning portions respectively positioning the drum upstream and downstream with respect to a cartridge mounting direction, a coupling engaging a drum coupling and transmitting a driving force to the drum, and a support supporting the cartridge at a first position positioning the drum to the first and second positioning portions and at a second position spacing the drum away from the first and second positioning portions to permit cartridge mounting and dismounting. The support includes a guide engaging the cartridge, and a third positioning portion limiting cartridge rotation relative to the first and second positioning portions when the coupling transmits a driving force to the drum coupling and for positioning the cartridge lower portion at an upstream position with respect to the mounting direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, and detachably mounts process cartridges having photosensitive drums. The apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable openable member, a belt receiving an image or carrying the recording material, supporting members supporting the process cartridges at different levels and movable between drum-contacting and retracted positions, and a connecting member moving the supporting member when the openable members moves to position the supporting member at the drum-contacting position when the openable member is closed, and position the supporting member at the retracted position when the openable member is opened, and including a shaft whose axis crosses the openable member rotational axis, first connecting portions rotatably connected with respective supporting members, and a second connecting portion engaging the openable member and fixed to the shaft closer to the openable member than the first connecting portions are fixed to the shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, detachably mounts a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum, and includes first and second positioning portions respectively positioning the drum upstream and downstream with respect to a cartridge mounting direction, a coupling engaging a drum coupling and transmitting a driving force to the drum, and a support supporting the cartridge at a first position positioning the drum to the first and second positioning portions and at a second position spacing the drum away from the first and second positioning portions to permit cartridge mounting and dismounting. The support includes a guide engaging the cartridge, and a third positioning portion limiting cartridge rotation relative to the first and second positioning portions when the coupling transmits a driving force to the drum coupling and for positioning the cartridge lower portion at an upstream position with respect to the mounting direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, and detachably mounts which process cartridges having photosensitive drums. The apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable openable member, a belt receiving an image or carrying the recording material, supporting members supporting the process cartridges at different levels and movable between drum-contacting and retracted positions, and a connecting member moving the supporting member when the openable member moves to position the supporting member at the drum-contacting position when the openable member is closed, and position the supporting member at the retracted position when the openable member is opened, and including a shaft whose axis crosses the openable member rotational axis, first connecting portions rotatably connected with respective supporting members, and a second connecting portion engaging the openable member and fixed to the shaft closer to the openable member than the first connecting portions are fixed to the shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a discharging roller pair that discharges the sheet, on which the image is formed, onto a stacking portion with a rotation in a first direction, and conveys the sheet to a re-conveying path for conveying the sheet to the image forming unit again with a rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a skew feed correction member that is provided in the re-conveying path, and contacts against a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the rotation in the second direction to correct skew feed of the sheet. The sheet conveying force when contacting the leading edge of the sheet against the skew feed correction member is smaller than sheet conveying force of the discharging roller pair when discharging the sheet onto the stacking portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a discharging roller pair that discharges the sheet, on which the image is formed, onto a stacking portion with a rotation in a first direction, and conveys the sheet to a re-conveying path for conveying the sheet to the image forming unit again with a rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a skew feed correction member that is provided in the re-conveying path, and contacts against a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the rotation in the second direction to correct skew feed of the sheet, wherein sheet conveying force when contacting the leading edge of the sheet against the skew feed correction member is smaller than sheet conveying force of the discharging roller pair when discharging the sheet onto the stacking portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, detachably mounts a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum, and includes first and second positioning portions respectively positioning the drum upstream and downstream with respect to a cartridge mounting direction, a coupling engaging a drum coupling and transmitting a driving force to the drum, and a support supporting the cartridge at a first position for positioning the drum to the first and second positioning portions and at a second position spacing the drum away from the first and second positioning portions to permit cartridge mounting and dismounting. The support includes a guide engaging the cartridge, and a third positioning portion limiting cartridge rotation relative to the first and second positioning portions when the coupling transmits a driving force to the drum coupling and for positioning the cartridge lower portion at an upstream position with respect to the mounting direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, and detachably mounts which process cartridges having photosensitive drums. The apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable openable member, a belt receiving an image or carrying the recording material, supporting members supporting the process cartridges at different levels and movable between drum-contacting and retracted positions, and a connecting member moving the supporting member when the openable member moves to position the supporting member at the drum-contacting position when the openable member is closed, and position the supporting member at the retracted position when the openable member is opened, and including a shaft whose axis crosses the openable member rotational axis, first connecting portions rotatably connected with respective supporting members, and a second connecting portion engaging the openable member and fixed to the shaft closer to the openable member than the first connecting portions are fixed to the shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has sufficient fixing stability and load capacity and being free of sheet jamming and poor image formation. An image forming apparatus includes a transfer voltage applying section for applying a voltage to a transfer section; a transfer current detector for detecting the transfer current flowing through the transfer section; a fixing section for fixing the toner image to fixing position at a predetermined temperature; and a size detector for detecting the size of the recording material. The transfer voltage applying section applies a predetermined transfer voltage, while the recording material passes through the transfer section, so that the transfer current is kept a constant current. When the predetermined transfer voltage is lower than a threshold voltage and the size of the recording material is larger than the predetermined size, the fixing section fixes the toner image at a temperature which is lower than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has sufficient fixing stability and load capacity and being free of sheet jamming and poor image formation. An image forming apparatus includes a transfer voltage applying section for applying a voltage to a transfer section; a transfer current detector for detecting the transfer current flowing through the transfer section; a fixing section for fixing the toner image to fixing position at a predetermined temperature; and a size detector for detecting the size of the recording material. The transfer voltage applying section applies a predetermined transfer voltage, while the recording material passes through the transfer section, so that the transfer current is kept a constant current. When the predetermined transfer voltage is lower than a threshold voltage and the size of the recording material is larger than the predetermined size, the fixing section fixes the toner image at a temperature which is lower than the predetermined temperature.